In today’s episode, we speak with our guest Dr. Rollie Wesen, Executive Director of The Jacques Pépin Foundation and an assistant professor at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI. 

In 2016, Rollie founded The Jacques Pépin Foundation alongside his wife and father-in-law, Jacques Pepin. In the interview, Rollie shares how the foundation is dedicated to using community kitchens to train individuals who face high barriers to finding employment in the culinary world. 

Listen as Rollie talks about how cooking is like learning a “foreign language” and how adults today can reclaim their lives with fundamental culinary skills.

In today’s episode, we speak with our guest Eli Kulp, the decorated chef and partner of High Street Hospitality Group, host of The Chef Radio Podcast, and co-host of Delicious City Philly Podcast. 

Before 2015, Eli's culinary journey was marked by impressive achievements: he earned coveted accolades like Food & Wine’s Best New Chef of 2014, honed his skills at renowned New York establishments such as Casa Lever and Del Posto, and collaborated with Ellen Yin to launch restaurants in Philadelphia and New York. However, everything changed dramatically in 2015 following a tragic Amtrak accident that left him with a life-altering spinal cord injury.

Listen as Eli candidly shares how he navigated through this unforeseen adversity, the power of perspective, and the importance of fostering a sense of belonging through his podcasts. 

Disclaimer: This podcast episode contains a sensitive subject matter regarding suicide. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please reach out immediately to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.

In today’s episode, we speak with our guest Brian Arruda, founder & CEO of Executive Chefs at Home, a premier placement agency for hospitality professionals in private residences across the globe. 

Brian shares the journey of building a thriving business during the pandemic out of necessity and how his experience working for acclaimed chefs, such as Charlie Palmer, José Andrés, Mario Batali, Thomas Keller, and Daniel Boulud, propelled him towards entrepreneurial success.  Today these relationships have played a significant role in the growth of Executive Chefs at Home and its network within the culinary world.

Listen as Brian talks about the power of networking, launching a business from scratch, and the future of private chefs and catering. 

In today’s episode, we speak with our guest Matty Edgell, the 28-year-old winner of the latest season of The Great British Bake Off on Netflix. 

Matty’s journey to triumph was nothing short of extraordinary. Hailed as the “underdog” and “wild card” of the 14th series, he captivated audiences with his humble demeanor and remarkable baking skills he learned from his Nana at a very young age. Matty shares how he’s continuing to share his passion for baking on social media and why sports and teaching will always remain a priority in his life. 

Listen as Matty talks about how he leveraged his sports mindset on television, his proudest Bake Off moment, and the cake he’s baking for his wedding. 

In today’s episode, we speak with our guest Ferdinand Metz, instrumental in establishing the Chefs’ Apprenticeship, Certification, and Master Chefs’ Certification programs in the United States. He’s also the first Certified Master Chef in history.

Honored with nearly every major award in the culinary world, including the Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the esteemed “Who's Who in Cooking” by the James Beard Foundation, Metz shares what it’s like to build a career and craft your own food philosophy. He elaborates on his 21-year tenure as President of the Culinary Institute of America, witnessing the graduation of over 30,000 students, as well as leading the United States Culinary Olympic Team to three consecutive world championships over 20 years.

Listen as Ferdinand talks about introducing new qualifications to regions within the industry, valuing quality ingredients in culinary arts, and creating your own legacy.

In today’s episode, we speak with Daphne Oz, Emmy Award-winning television host, New York Times-bestselling author, natural foods chef, and daughter of Dr. Oz.

As a previous co-host at The Good Dish and ABC’s The Chew, Daphne dives into what it takes to start a career in TV hosting and her best social media tips. With features in notable publications such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post, Daphne shares more about her distinct culinary philosophy, advocating confidence-boosting recipes with healthy twists. This is reflected in her latest cookbook, Eat Your Heart Out: All-Fun, No-Fuss Food to Celebrate Eating Clean. 

Listen as Daphne talks about what she’s learned from being a judge on MasterChef Junior, auditioning to become a TV host, and managing life as a content creator. 

In today’s episode, we speak with our guest Kristen Kish, the new host of Bravo’s Emmy Award-Winning Top Chef.* Kristen is the chef and partner of Arlo Grey in Austin, TX, as well as the founder of Kish Apéritif.

Kristen shares how remaining authentically true to herself has opened unexpected doors of opportunity, such as winning Season 10 of Top Chef and becoming the franchise’s second female winner. Now, coming full circle, Kristen is taking the helm as the host of Season 21, succeeding Padma Lakshmi. Kristen also chats about her experience authoring two cookbooks: "Kristen Kish Cooking: Recipes and Techniques: A Cookbook," and "It's All in the Sauce: Bringing Your Uniqueness to the Table."

Tune in as Kristen details her journey of being chosen as the new host of Top Chef, reflects on the invaluable lessons gleaned from culinary school, and delves into the significance of encouraging children to pursue their curiosity.

*“Top Chef” season 21 premieres on Wednesday, March 20 at 9pm ET/PT on Bravo. Episodes will be available the next day on Peacock.

In today’s episode, we speak with our guest Bekei Ijewere, an Escoffier graduate and founder of Beks Culinary Academy in Lagos, Nigeria. 

What makes Bekei's story truly captivating is her unconventional path into the culinary realm. Trained initially as a chartered accountant, she seamlessly merged her financial acumen with her deep-rooted passion for the culinary arts. In 2021, Bekei established Beks Culinary Academy, marking the beginning of her mission to revolutionize Africa's culinary landscape.

Listen as Bekei shares her unique perspective on Africa's dynamic culinary scene, her commitment to fostering opportunities for women at Beks Culinary Academy, and much more! 

In today’s episode, we speak with our guest Shari Bayer, founder & president of Bayer Public Relations, as well as host & producer of All in the Industry podcast.

With over 30 years in the industry, Shari established her PR agency in 2003, representing chefs, restaurants, and culinary-focused clients. As a Les Dames d’Escoffier NY member since 2010 and former president of the New York Women’s Culinary Alliance, Shari sheds light on the pivotal role of "networking" in her career.

Listen as Shari shares stories of solo dining adventures, discusses writing her first book, Chefwise, and reveals the secrets to building an exciting career in restaurant public relations.

In today’s episode, we speak with our guest Wonda Grobbelaar, an expert in soft skills, leadership quality assurance, and management training. 

As a PhD candidate, Wonda shares her ground-breaking research on how chefs can navigate stress, offers tips on hospitality leadership, and discusses the future of workplace psychology. She advocates for quality cultures in higher education, guides culinarians in burnout prevention, and explores Industry 4.0's impact on culinary jobs. 

Listen as Wonda talks about prioritizing mental health in the kitchen, identifying your personality type to help manage stress, and how robotics can support the hospitality industry.